Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Just to say, I do like EOS!!

Not having a go at you lads here. I see and hear lots of people dismiss him. I would say thats because he dares to question things and probably because he doesn't fit "The narrative". Or maybe they are holding some grudge (see little Jamie H!) about 2007?

You have to laugh when the same people who dismiss Eddie (or Birch!) NEVER offer up an opinion on who they like. Why is that? Its easy to sit in the background nitpicking at a word or a mistake or a single flaw and deride that person. Its so very easy to label and dismiss people and twist it all in a effort to debase the person, the topic and shut off the conversations and any criticisms.

When Im on it….I will also say I do like the Terenure lads on the molecast. They're just rugby lads chatting and putting it out there. Its can be an entertaining listen. Fair play to them.

Once again you'll get the usual snipers taking pot shots at them, or at those that may refer to something they said.

When it comes to TV or Podcasts I do prefer the likes of Eddie, who is not a populist, he can critique (he doesn't get personal, yes I read the indo article) and also be sensible, over the ramblings of the copious amounts of ex-players were are inundated with.

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My TOP5 'pundits'

1. Murray Kinsella - Detailed, Considered and on point. Very nice person also.
2. Eddie - Big Picture, Entertaining, Not afraid to call it.
3. Madigan - Excellent at analysing and explaining why play is working/not working.
4. Johnny Watterson, - One of the very few 'journos' in the printed press.
5. Birch (Yes. I also like him!) Can be Insightful, Entertaining (storys, rumours!!).

Good article by Watterson in todays paper.

re: "sports journos in Ireland are lame"

Again not having a go at you. Allot of them definitely are not up to scratch at all.

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https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2026/02/20/more-questions-than-answers-as-ireland-squad-struggle-to-pinpoint-the-malaise/

When assistant coach Johnny Sexton and four Irish players came out on Tuesday to talk on their pre-England match media day, the questions asked of them were sometimes as telling as their answers.

The questions were loaded with inherent criticisms, ones which players usually ignore but sometimes bridle against and move to point out that they have a different view.

It can leave you thinking the opposite of what you first thought. For instance, it wasn’t difficult to come away from the High Performance Centre in Dublin this week believing that Sam Prendergast had a good game against Italy, the scrum can be strengthened with easy fixes and Ireland do not have a hangover from the Lions Tour to Australia.

Tadhg Furlong acknowledged that some players were involved in eight games during the Lions tour, but that it shouldn’t be an excuse for not performing in the Six Nations.

“Some lads play eight games on them tours, so it’s a lot of strain on them,” said the Irish tighthead prop. “Does that [leave] a hangover? I’m not sure. I think the Irish system would get a good preseason, etc ... Granted, it was short this year and straight into rugby.”

Sexton was asked the same question and highlighted Ireland’s head of athletic performance, Aled Walters, who would have known the exact number of minutes the Irish players had been on the pitch during the Lions’ trip and taken that into account.

“We did it in November, knowing that it was going to be like this in the Six Nations,” said Sexton.

Furlong was also asked about the scrum review they underwent after the Italy match and whether it was a tough watch. Again, the implicit criticism – that the scrum was in big trouble against Italy – was in the question.

“We were negative there in the penalty count, so it was four penalties to them, one to us, a free kick each,” explained Furlong. “Obviously, it was a disappointing result. Italy do have a very good scrum, to be fair to them. We saw what they did to South Africa in November, I thought they put them under large pressure.”

That was the third time the Italian scrum performance against the Springboks had been raised since last weekend’s match, with coach Andy Farrell also emphasising the point. The message was the strength of the Italy set piece, not a weakness in the Irish scrum.

The outhalf issue arose, as it always does, and Sexton was reminded that he had jetted off in 2013 to play club rugby with Racing 92 in the Top 14 without sanction from the IRFU, and whether other Irish players should be allowed to do so to improve their game.

The case of Harry Byrne, who went to Bristol Bears on loan, and came back to Leinster a better player, was offered as evidence.

The question was framed around Matthieu Jalibert, the French 10, who plays and competes more frequently in Top 14 games with Bordeaux Bègles each season than players in Ireland would in the United Rugby Championship.

Cognisant of the fact that he is currently employed by the IRFU, Sexton offered little to counter the current policy of keeping players at home.

“In terms of encouraging players to go, I don’t think I’d be too popular in the IRFU if I said yes,” he said. “So, you’ve got to understand that I’m not going to win out of this question.”

The mood of the session was one of the media trying to divine the thinking in camp, what was going wrong and how they might improve as the team’s struggle to find consistent form continues.

There was no outward sign of urgency, although the symptoms are showing with Ireland dropping to fifth in the world rankings and out of the top four for the first time since 2022.

Perhaps the players and coaches preferred not to directly answer questions on form as they were also struggling for explanations.

An overlying aspect coming from the squad was the theme of trust, the quality Irish players who will come good, the urging of patience, especially around the 10 position and the belief that the answer will reveal itself in the next game.

But after Thursday’s team announcement, it seemed clear Ireland are still in the investigation stage of what is causing the malaise. The selection answer from Farrell was to faithfully go back to the same well of players.

He knows he has an underwhelming Ireland barely treading water, showing just flashes of the old character with frontline players such as Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier and Joe McCarthy strangely, inexplicably mute on the pitch, but who he has selected for this weekend.

After the week’s probing of players and coaching staff, there should have been some answers. Instead, the sense was that more questions have piled up beside this Irish squad.

The outcome against England in Twickenham may answer some of them. Defeat would add to the heap, and confirm an Irish team on a downward spiral.

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NOTE: If some think that the €£$Summer Tour€£$ doesn't impact on players. Read Tommy Freeman. Who is a winger!!

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/16/tommy-freeman-british-irish-lions-australia-tour-welfare-limits-england-ireland-six-nations-2026

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Also in the today paper on the "negativity" theme.

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/02/20/stephen-collins-andy-farrell-had-a-point-the-way-we-talk-about-ireland-is-way-too-negative/

The reaction of Irish rugby coach Andy Farrell to criticism of his team’s performance last weekend is worth pondering for its implications which go far wider than sport. “I think people need to ask themselves, really, sometimes, ‘Are we Irish?’ Do we want people to do well or not?”

Ireland had just beaten Italy in a ferociously fought contest but much of the commentary focused on the weak aspects of the Irish performance. Considering that Italy had beaten Scotland and the Scots went on to thrash England, why was it assumed we could stroll past Italy?

Farrell’s remark has a relevance to the negative narrative on almost every aspect of Irish life that dominates so much commentary, which has been infected by the vile standards of social media.

Fortunately, the public is not as deluded about the state of the country – or the merits of the Irish rugby team for that matter – as so many of the critics who go out of their way to accentuate the negative and downplay the positive.

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Context is everything: I believe Farrell was specifically referring to JC-SP social media ridiculousness in this quote. Now I could be wrong but I heard GT and MurrayK say that they questioned Farrell about a loud cheer that greeted the SP-JC substitution and he got visibly angry at the suggestion that it was a cheer for SP coming off and it was nothing but a cheer for JC.

I hope that was the case, but I have my doubts. I think thats actually what really annoyed Farrell (Rightly), plus the obvious point that his starting pick didn't necessarily go to plan. However, like everything nowadays if you speak out about anything you will invariably get someone rushing to label you. e.g. 'too negative' or 'entitled'!!

The only explanation I can think of is Ireland looked at the English BR and its similar in style to last year. England didnt compete at the LO last year.

England contested just 4 of Ireland’s 23 lineout throws.

Baird won 7 of Ireland’s tally, his replacement Conan, 5, James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne 3 each.

Ireland contested 8 of England’s first 12 lineouts, giving up possession without a challenge in the last 3 throws

So maybe the Irish plan is to play more phases against England. Keep the ball in play time high and tie-up Pollock and Earl in the rucks.

Same on defence. The dogs on the street know what England are going to do on Attack. Kick. Presume Ireland are going to go after the breakdown esp hard this week.

Hence, both Conan and Timoney on the bench.

Yes. Pros and Cons to both tactics!

High Ball in play time may play into the English hands if Ireland dont win that physical battle. But if Ireland can get gainline e.g. Stu and get on his offloads, get G-P running down the blind side it will tie-up Pollock and Earl narrow the English defence.

Im guessing thats the strategy here. All will be revealed.

I agree on vdF. He isnt a turnover specialist but he is a ruck/breakdown, tackling, carrying 80min machine.

v England last year top-tackler with 18 and carried 11 times, throwing two offloads.

I still think Ireland will kick a good bit. They have to. Mix it up and I think they'll Esp target Arundell v Baloucoune and try and get the BR into the fight for the scraps over on that wing.